Overview
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria is the crossroads of the ancient world, and prospered as the Mediterranean’s most glorious city under the Ptolemies, the dynastic Greek family that reigned as pharaohs over Egypt. Our extension includes explorations of the Roman Amphitheater (the only one in Egypt), Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the extensive Alexandria National Museum, and the Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa, the largest Roman burial site discovered in Egypt.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Cairo
Arrive in Cairo and transfer to the hotel for overnight. (Most trip members take this as a pre-trip extension)...Meals on your own
Cairo - Day 1
Mena House
Cairo, Egypt
Day 1 (1 night)
Originally built as a royal hunting lodge for Khedive Ismail, ruler of Egypt from 1863 to 1879, the Mena House was converted into a hotel in the 1880s. It has hosted sultans, pashas, royals, and statesmen during more than a century as one of the world’s grand hotels. People love this place for a compelling reason—it’s literally right across from the pyramids, and we always reserve pyramid-view rooms for you. The Mena House has a historic wing with an opulent Arabesque interior, several modern wings, three restaurants, a lushly landscaped garden, and a huge swimming pool with views of the Great Pyramids. Note: The hotel is a popular venue for large weddings and other events. If weddings are in progress during our stay here, there may be noise from music and social gatherings. If you are sensitive to noise while trying to sleep, it might be wise to bring ear plugs or a white-noise machine.
Day 2
Alexandria / Roman Amphitheater / Alexandria Library and Museum
With your guide, journey on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road to Alexandria. Upon arrival, explore the Roman Amphitheater, discovered quite recently during excavations for a new apartment building. This well-preserved theater once stood with 13 semi-circular tiers of white marble imported from Europe, and contains galleries, sections of mosaic flooring, and marble seats for up to 800 spectators. At one point, it may have even been roofed over to serve as an Odeon for musical performances. Some inscriptions suggest that it was sometimes used for wrestling contests. We then enjoy a visit to the Qait Bey Fort, a 15th century Mamluk fort built on the foundations of the Pharos lighthouse that includes both a mosque and a castle inside its walls. After lunch, we visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, not only a library but also an integrated cultural complex (please note that the library complex is closed on Friday and Saturday). It stands on what is thought to be the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria, built by Ptolemy I. The largest library of antiquity, the Library of Alexandria was frequented by scholars from all over the Mediterranean from the 4th century BC to its eventual destruction by fire 700 years later. Overnight at Steigenberger Cecil Hotel...BL
Alexandria: The history of the Alexandria region stretches back thousands of years, well before the time of Alexander. Greek literature from Homer’s time recognized the island of Pharos as a busy harbor for ships laden with goods from Crete, Phoenicia, and the Aegean. A causeway known as the Heptastadion was constructed to link the mainland of Alexandria to the island of Pharos, thus creating two remarkable harbors. The famous Lighthouse at Pharos, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was built in the 3rd century BC under Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II. It rose to over 300 feet, casting a bright light that could be seen for many miles. The lighthouse was toppled by an earthquake in 1323 and now lies in pieces in the harbor, visible to divers underwater.
Alexandria / Roman Amphitheater / Alexandria Library and Museum - Day 2
Steigenberger Cecil Hotel
Alexandria, Egypt
Day 2 (1 night)
With an impressive guest list from luminaries like Winston Churchill, Somerset Maugham, and Al Capone, the historic 4-star Steigenberger Cecil Hotel stands proudly in the most popular square in Alexandria. Built in 1929, the hotel still uses its original wooden elevators, and guest rooms are elegantly designed to reflect some of its original influences from the era—one of its suites actually served as the base for the British Secret Service’s operations! Its central location is walking distance to the Corniche Road, where you can take a stroll along the Red Sea or enjoy exploring the nearby boutiques and cafes during your visit.
Day 3
Alexandria National Museum / Cairo
Visit the Alexandria National Museum, with its thousands of artifacts spanning the ages from the Pharaonic Era through the Greco-Roman period in Egypt. Papyrus scrolls, perfume bottles, and painted mummy cases are tastefully displayed, as well as classic Greek statues showing the physical beauty that represents the ideals of that culture. Later, we visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa, the largest Roman burial site discovered in Egypt. The three tiers of tombs and chambers are cut into the bedrock to a depth of over 100 feet. Constructed in the 2nd century AD as a single-family crypt, these tombs were later expanded to hold more than 300 individual tombs. There is even a banquet hall where grieving relatives paid their last respects with a funereal feast. Though the motifs are pure ancient Egyptian, the architects and artists were schooled in the Greco-Roman style, resulting in an amazingly integrated artwork quite unlike anything else in the world. We return to Cairo in the afternoon. Overnight at Cairo group hotel (this is Day 1 of the regular trip)...BL
